PUERTO RICAN STRUGGLES TO "FIT IN"
BY STUDENT
Over the years the United States of America has portrayed
themselves as a country of equal opportunity and freedom. The American dream is
this dream that most individuals who enter the United States have, as they seek
economic prosperity and social stability. In addition, higher education and
suburban living is depicted as a part of the American dream. The problem is
that this country was responsible for the exact opposite notion of the American
dream. People of color have been discriminated against and neglected throughout
the years. Why is it that the United States must belittle those minorities who already
resided on US territory and those who came into the country, solely seeking a
better lifestyle and to better the country?
I want to specify on the Puerto Rican population, which were
one of the first Latino cultures present in the United States. After being
promised prosperity by the United States, I’ll say it’s hard to believe that
some if not any of the Puerto Rican population achieved the goal they came to
accomplish. Puerto Ricans in the United States have worked the hardest they
could to achieve very little in terms of economic stability and comfort. They
are perceived as dead on a daily basis (Pietri). By dead the poet means that
the Puerto Rican race goes unrecognized for their hard work. By receiving the
hardest jobs with the littlest pay and expected to live comfortably. The poem
speaks on the oppression of the Puerto Rican people and how it was hard to
communicate with others because of their lack of English and that is why they
could not progress. Living in specific areas because they could not fit in, in
certain places and being forced to deal with vulgar language directed towards
them is neither ideal nor ethical. Perhaps the United States is not truly
prepared to be as diverse as it portrays it wants to be.
Discrimination is an ongoing phenomenon that has been
present for too long and must be acted upon. It is not just Puerto Rican’s who
suffer from discrimination but the whole Latino population, as well as other
groups like African Americans. One of
the 13 points created by the Young Lords party was “We want self-determination
for all Latinos” (Young Lords Party). This point specifies on how the Latino
population is targeted by the superior White population and how Latinos should
be more respected and rewarded. In order to achieve such respect, the Latino
population must learn how to work together and not against each other. In the
poem Pietri wrote it discussed how different Puerto Rican individuals died
hating other Puerto Rican individuals because they possessed something
“better”. Instead of having envy towards each other, we as a Latino population
must unite to combat discrimination of any sort and display our true strength
to overcome all obstacles and succeed in life.
Works Cited
13 Point Program and Platform of the Young Lords
Party. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2017, from
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/sixties/HTML_docs/Resources/Primary/Manifestos/Young_Lords_platform.html
Pedro Pietri Topics: Movements Places: Latin America. (2010,
December 22). Puerto Rican Obituary by Pedro Pietri. Retrieved January 31,
2017, from http://monthlyreview.org/2004/06/01/puerto-rican-obituary/
The question that you posed at the end of the first paragraph was very interesting and I wish there was a way we could answer it. There are so many different reasons. It helps to get the reader of your blog post thinking. Your references to the poem we read for class really helped to show that what Pietri was writing about was, although poetic, very realistic. I can see your feelings come through your writing about Latinos and African Americans and how working together will help them get through the discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you wrote here. Many Latinos have migrated here to better their economic standings. The ones that do not understand/speak the primary language of this country do not succeed. Many get jobs that pay less than minimum wage. I also think that your last sentence to your second paragraph was very powerful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you wrote. Many people from all over the world come to the United States with the image of a better life but when they finally get to the U.S it wasn't what they expected. Also liked the interpretation of the poem by Pietri you referenced.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! You incorporated the readings from class really well in your answer. I do agree that the United States, as you stated, "is not truly prepared to be diverse as it portrays it wants to be," and because of this the American Dream becomes an American Nightmare to many minority groups. To end this nightmare society must understand what minority groups go through, just to have a taste of the so called American Dream. I also agree that in order to combat this discrimination/nightmare minority groups need to stand for together, because they know what they have been through.
ReplyDeleteI really like the points you made in this post. It's true that even today Latinos have to band together to still fight for our right to the American dream, Puerto Ricans especially. I've heard some people say that modern day Puerto Ricans shouldn't be considered as Latino since Puerto Rico is now a territory of the US and I don't agree with that at all. Latino minority groups need to focus on their similarities and not pick each other apart for their differences. I think the points you made by the Young Lords are still relevant and needed today and I think you did a really good job with this topic.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. As a minority myself, I truly agree with your statement on discrimination being an ongoing phenomenon that needs to be stopped. You mention, The Young Lords, and before this class I've never heard of them. So this blog post further emphasizes the importance they had on the Puerto Rican community. Another inspirational group fighting for what people deserve! I also agree with your claim that the Latino population should be united, but instead I would argue that individuals as Americans should be united and fight for rights for everyone. Too much discrimination occurs in one country alone and it's very sad. Great post though.
ReplyDeleteThe first line itself is just interested me so much, great way to pull the reader in. Your references to the Young Lords was very powerful. Truthfully even in the many history classes I’ve taken in high school and the few I’ve taken in college, this class was the first that I have ever heard of them. It sucks that for Puerto Ricans they don’t get the recognition that they need. They’re such hard workers that deserve way more than what they were given, the bare minimum. I agree strongly on the points you have said about discrimination, we as minorities get discriminated against on a daily basis but its not spoken or heard about because of the way media is set us. I do believe that we can combat the discriminations by changing little by little not only in ourselves but pushing to change how media is for future generations.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post! It is unfair that people migrating to America, fall victim to the racism and lack of tolerance the masses has for people who have a different skin tone, language or culture as them! You posed an excellent question on the last line of your first paragraph, I wish I knew the answer, seems as if we reject and belittle the unfamiliar.
ReplyDeleteWow, I agree with this blog in many different ways. People come to the United States with stars in their eyes and with hopes of prospering. After getting here they are faced with the harsh reality of what the United States really holds for people of color. As a Puerto Rican, hearing that they were trying to escape from terrible conditions only to come to conditions that were worst is heart breaking. Now they are faced with racism, discrimination, and are oppressed for things that are out of their control. I wish things were different and that Latinos and African Americans as a whole weren't treated the way that they have been for so long.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this blog post and relate to it in ways only a Puerto Rican would. I have witnessed the disappointment and hardships Puerto Ricans end up facing because they came to the United States thinking that they would be able to live the "American Dream". One thing that saddens me the most that you mentioned in the article is that Puerto Ricans have been referred to as "dead" in the sense of lack of recognition. This impacts our community as a whole because without recognition, people have nothing to fight for. This is how communities are dismantled and left with little to no room for growth. I believe if the platform for work done by minority groups is risen, we have more room for improvement.
ReplyDeleteThe American dream is a pretty glorified idea, which a good portion of the population is unable to achieve. I agree with every thing that you brought up. The Puerto Rican population is one of the most hard working groups and in return they've historically gotten less and less in return for that work. The comparison between the Puerto Rican struggle and the African struggle is quite similar. Not only one but two separate groups are being disadvantaged in the country, which raises a flag for the historical way in which the country commonly deals with people who are different form the majoryt Anglo population. The discrimination which comes from this is the result of those disadvantaged groups finally making it through to the minority population, and the majorities way of combating this change.
ReplyDeleteYour post was definitely one of my favorites of all the posts from this class! I think the question you asked in the first paragraph is extremely important. Puerto Rican and other Latino people are among the hardest workers and lowest paid in the country, and I do not believe it is fair. We must stop belittling them and end the stigmas placed on them and discrimination towards them.
ReplyDelete